International

Luis Arce claims exit to the sea for Bolivia

Photo: APG

March 23 |

The Bolivian president, Luis Arce, recalled on Thursday the 144 years of the historic defense of the territory of Calama in 1879 and claimed the right to a sovereign outlet to the sea for his country.

In a publication on Twitter, the Bolivian president said that “Today we remember 144 years of the historic defense of Calama by Bolivian heroes who gave their lives to preserve the integrity of the homeland”.

Likewise, Arce, who is in the United States at the World Water Forum, pointed out that “for truth, justice, history and reason, today and always sea for Bolivia”.

The day before, the Government of Bolivia reiterated on the occasion of the Day of the Sea, that it will maintain its claim for a sovereign maritime access and that it will insist on the dialogue with Chile to solve what it considers is still a regional “wound”.

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This was expressed by the Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada in the preamble of the commemoration, which began with the transfer of the remains of the hero Eduardo Abaroa from the basilica of San Francisco, in the center of the city of La Paz, to the square that bears his name.

Prada pointed out that the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2018 has not put an end to the Bolivian claim and urges Bolivia and Chile to dialogue, and that is what the country is now seeking.

The ICJ ruled that Chile does not have an obligation to negotiate in favor of Bolivia an outlet to the sea for a claim that country filed in 2013.

For this Thursday, President Arce is scheduled to participate in the official acts for the Day of the Sea and address a message to the country.

Bolivia commemorates the Day of the Sea every March 23 because on that date, in 1879, the first resistance of the country to the invasion by Chilean troops, which began on February 14 of that year.

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International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.